The hard working ladies of the Serbian Sisters Circle let someone else do the cooking as they celebrated the Holiday Season Saturday afternoon. Poetry, Christmas stories, games, and songs were all part of the program. Mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and friends laughed until they had tears in their eyes when Olga Galich Velasquez lead the Kolo Chorus in "The Twelve Days of Christmas". "Kolo Men" Simo Glumac and Richard Vrtikapa were thanked for all their help during the past year, and first time inductee Paul Jancarich was presented with his own pair of rubber gloves, apron, and bottle of Palmolive dish soap. "Youngest" Kolo member Karavelka Petrovich (well into her 100's) was honored with a bouquet of fresh flowers by Alexis Orlich. Kolo President Beba Rudman also had a special gift for Donna Nicolich - her very own Chef's hat! Special thanks to Kathy Vrtikapa Friedlander and her daughter Susan, who traveled from Indianapolis to coordinate the party activities and games. Please join us next year and be sure to invite a friend!

You are cordially invited to attend the St. Sava Serbian Sisters

Annual Christmas Luncheon

Saturday, December 8th, 12:30 p.m.

Innsbrook Country Club 6701 Taft St., Merrillville

$20 per person, friends and family welcome!

Reservations a.s.a.p. to Mimi Orlich 219-310-8044 or Donna Nicolich 219-226-1758

10:00 a.m.

Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Parastos - Laying of Wreaths at Memorial Monuments

12:30 p.m.

Consecration of New Pavilion • Anniversary Banquet and Program • South Wing

Guest Speaker: His Grace Bishop Longin of New Gracanica Diocese

All festivities will take place at St. Sava Church Grounds, 99191 Mississippi St.

St. Sava's Srbadija Folklore Group performed Sunday afternoon for Serb Fest guests. The senior group gave their skilled routines, but the younger 2 groups had technical difficulty with their music CD and were unable to perform their rehearsed dances. Drina Tamburitza Orchestra stepped up and played live music for the kids to dance a casual kolo. Moms, Babas, and friends joined in to lend their support to the disappointed children and it all turned out well! Srbadija welcomes new members, so please contact Borka Grimsgard or the church office for details (219) 736-9191.

With amazing energy, young guests from Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland enjoyed three nights of kolo dancing at St. Sava's Serb Fest 2012. Musical entertainment for dancing was provided by Orchestra Sumadija, Maestro, and DJ Spaz. See if you can keep up!

2012 BIG CASH RAFFLE Winners List Below:

$25,000   The Watts Family - Chicago

$10,000   Charles Donovan - Hammond

$5,000   Jerry Raderstorf - LaPorte

$1,000   Robert Thompson - Hobart

$1,000   Katie Vranjes - Crown Point

$1,000   Tom Mitchell - Fair Oaks

$500   Garry Mikolics

$500   Mike Janich

$500   William Paige - Merrillville

$500   Ray Radjenovich - Munster

$500   Sandi Lalich - Munster

$500   Donna Nicolich - Crown Point

$500   Mark Snyder - Hammond

$500   Michael Hayes - Sauk Village

$500   Marta Petrovic - Munster

$500   Steve Winarski - St. John

$1,000 Early Bird #2   Don Wheeler - Merrillville

$1,000 Early Bird #1   Cathy Delvalle - Merrillville

To honor their grandfather's memory, Sarah and Rachel Gerbick were asked to draw names for this year's raffle. Gordon Gerbick passed away since last year's festival. We will always remember him as a lifelong dedicated member of St. Sava who is truly missed. Gordon was always spotted at Serb Fest selling raffle tickets in his funny hat.

Zivio, Gordon, rest in peace.

This year's Serb Fest volunteers dealt with especially challenging situations: temperatures in the mid-90's and a dangerous thunderstorm that blew through late Saturday afternoon. Children were safely gathered into the basement of the church building, while others gathered at the back corners of the solid new Pavilion. Within 45 minutes of the 70 mph thundertorm, tables and chairs were re-set, cevap grills were running, and smiling Serbian faces were back in business for the evening rush. We lost some tents and signs, but thankfully no one was hurt! It all turned out well, thanks to the spirit of our great volunteers, many of whom worked for weeks cleaning, planning, baking, and preparing for the annual festival. Special Thanks also to friends from other church parishes who helped grill cevaps and roast lambs. Hvala and Ziveli!

Join us today for live music by Drina from 1 to 6 and DJ Spaz for dancing from 5 to 9 pm. Be sure to stop by the fantastic Serbian Bakery and view the art exhibit "Images of Faith" in the north wing. Folklore Dancers will perform at 2:00 pm in front of the new Pavilion. Buy a chance to wind the $25,000 Grand Prize - BIG CASH RAFFLE. Everyone is welcome!

The brand new 3 Season Pavilion will offer comfortable dining - rain or shine. Hope to see you there.

Everyone's WELCOME!

There's still time to donate toward the food and liquor expenses. If you can't volunteer your time, any monetary donation will surely help. Please make checks payable to St. Sava Church and be sure to note what your donation is for. You can mail your check to 9191 Mississippi St., Merrillville, IN 46410 or drop it of at the church office.

Thanks for all your help!

LAMB   $150

PIG   $100

BOX OF CEVAPS   $60

COGNAC   $20

WINE   $20

KEG OF BEER   $50

ALL OTHER LIQUOR   $25

In spite of the extreme hot weather, many parishioners attended the annual Serbian Day Memorial Service for General Draza Mihajlovich and other deceased members who served their country. After Divine Liturgy, a procession led the faithful to the new Legacy Tree for a short service. Special guests included Fr. Dragomir and Kristina Tuba from Akron, Ohio with their family, as they make their way to Phoenix to serve that parish. Young Lazo Knezic was in charge of the lamb and pig crew - great job, gentlemen! Thanks also to the Ajder family and Snezana for serving a delicious luncheon.

Violet Milanovich was remembered with a 40 Day Parastos when members returned into the church before the luncheon.

THIS SUNDAY, JULY 15TH, at the Serbian Day Celebration, the SECOND DRAWING for the EARLY-BIRD RAFFLE will be held in the south wing after the luncheon. It's a chance to win an extra $1000 Prize, plus your ticket will be re-entered into the drawing for the $25,000 Grand Prize and all other Prizes in the SERB FEST RAFFLE! Get your tickets soon from any church member, or contact Vinko Mancich, Mike Jaksich, or David Gerbick. Ticket price is $100. Good Luck! Winner need not be present.

A very important planning meeting for this year's Serb Fest will be held on Thursday evening, July 12th, at 6:30 p.m. in the south wing. Meeting is open to entire membership. Please know that volunteers are needed as always in all areas. We hope that we can count on all members to help with our biggest annual fundraiser.

All areas need volunteers:

Bake Sale, Bar, Kitchen, Ticket Sales, Set-Up / Clean-Up, Parking, Maintenance, Raffle, Fund Raising & Donations, Lambs, Signs, Events.

PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE TO VOLUNTEER (219) 736-9191

Orthodox Christian churches, including the Serbian Orthodox church, celebrate the “miracle of Easter” or Pascha on the Easter Sunday date in the Julian calendar. Many people see Easter as the most important event in the church calendar. Orthodox Easter preparations begin with 40 days of strict fasting prior to Easter Day. Faithful Orthodox Christians attend liturgies during the Holy Week that leads up to Easter Sunday. Below are three videos that show excerpts of the Easter Divine Liturgy at St. Sava Church.

Please come and enjoy a great luncheon buffet after Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 20th. Mike & Myra Ajder and Nikola (Nine) Loncar are your hosts, and all proceeds will benefit our 4 basketball teams. We are especially proud to have 4 teams participating in this year's tournament hosted by St. Elijah in Merrillville on June 8 through 10. If you can't make the luncheon, please donate through the church office.

His Grace Bishop Longin presided at Lenten Vespers on Saturday, March 17. Also serving were visiting clergy from various Orthodox parishes throughout Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Rev. Dobrivoje Milunovic from St. George Serbian Church in Schererville was preaching. After Vespers, a delicious Lenten supper was served by our Kolo Sisters in the south wing. Thank you to Xenia Jancarich for taking photos.

Please plan to attend this spiritual evening of prayer sponsored by the Orthodox Clergy Association of Northwest Indiana hosted by St. Archangel Michael in Lansing March 4th at 5:30 p.m. Video below is from last year's service at our St. Sava Church.

Musical highlights from this year's St. Sava Day program are presented in the videos below. Under the direction of Joanne Samardzija, the students worked hard to learn several new songs. Thank you to Fr. Marko, parents, and teachers for all their help, and to Deena Galich, whose handmade props have become a part of every St. Sava Day program. Along with the many poems recited in Serbian and English, Olga Micic gave a wonderful rendition of "Rastko". Teens Rebekah Gerbick, Sasa Labovic, and Chris and Alexis Orlich read "Life of St. Sava". Maya Radjenovich, Savka Popovic, and Rachel Gerbick sang "Vesela Je Srbadija" - what beautiful young voices! There were many proud parents, grandparents, Kumovi, and friends in the audience to cheer them on.

St. Sava's Sunday School students presented a fabulous program celebrating the Patron Saint of all Serbian children. The program included several musical numbers as well as individual poems recited in Serbian and English. Program video coming soon - check back in a couple days!

Fr. Marko blessed the Slava Kolach with the Sunday School children on Sunday, January 29 following Divine Liturgy. Each year we celebrate the Patron Saint of all Serbian children, St. Sava, and we are treated to a wonderful program of music and poetry.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?

St. Sava Hunting Club Lovacko Drustvo

Invites you to

46th SUPER FOOTBALL PARTY

Sunday February 5, 2012
Noon – 11:00 P.M.
St. Sava South Wing Social Center
9191 Mississippi Street
Merrillville

Lunch & Dinner, Cash Bar

$20 for 2 meals, lunch & dinner

$10 dinner only

Come celebrate the Big Game Serbian Style!

Svi ste dobro dosli!

Proceeds will benefit St. Sava Church and Lifeline Humanitarian Organization

Dr. Jolynn Derado, Mike Suvajac, and Paul Jancarich read the Epistles during Christmas Divine Liturgy at St. Sava. Very Rev. Marko Matic gave his blessing to the readers, who read the English and Slavonic verses. Responses by S.S.S. Karageorge Choir under the direction of Ms. Kathy Baroevich. We truly appreciate the devotion of the readers who read every Sunday and are most grateful for our choir members. Mike Suvajac and Paul Jancarich also read for every funeral service and weekday services.

Fr. Marko celebrated Great Vespers on Christmas Eve with a church full of parishioners. At the end of the service, we were all anointed with Holy Oil from Christ's Tomb in Jerusalem. The special oil was a gift from Sister Serafima, Fr. Marko's dear friend who lived in Jerusalem for 15 years before returning to California. This year's balmy 45 degree weather was truly appreciated by those who remained for the blessing of the Badnjak outdoors. Lenten sandwiches, relish trays, and assorted fruit trays were served in the south wing,  as well as the traditional hot tea and sljivo. Children of all ages had a great time with "Serbian Santa".

There were many GOOD boys and girls who sat with Santa Friday evening in the south wing after the blessing and burning of the badnjak. Extraordinarily mild 40+ degree temperatures allowed for a huge crowd and a comfortable service outdoors. (Click the thumbnail photo to enlarge).

Club "Krajina" will host a New Yer's Eve celebration in the south wing starting at 7 p.m., until 1 a.m. Spit - roasted pig dinner with all the trimmings will be offered as well as a bottle of champagne for only $50 per person.

Live entertainment will be provided by:

Bane Djordjevic

Miodrag Stanojevic Zumbul

Vito Zdrale

Milna Anicic

Reservations are limited, so please call the church office at 219-736-9191, or after 3 p.m. call Steve Kljajic at 219-741-0244.